Menu Item
WP
Word
Comments
Word & WP: Symbol
1
Word wins due to its Special Characters {although most of these are part of WP's QuickCorrect AutoText}. However, should you wish to, Word also allows you to add them (easily) to an AutoCorrect or Shortcut Key.
Word & WP: Date & Time
1
1
Both have advantages. WP allows you to create your own, whereas Word allows you to set the chosen format as your default. WP allows you to do that, but only by adding it to your Current Document Style default.
Word: Format Menu
WP: Outline/Bullets & Numbering
1
These are similar, but WP has more options. Word allows you to use pictures as bullets, but many law firms *still* won't use Word, as its Outlining features just aren't as powerful or stable as WP's are.
WP: Variable
1
New feature in WP10 . Variables allow you to mark text that you know will change, for example dates, version numbers, or client names. WordPerfect allows you to create a variable. Once you have created a variable you can insert it in a document, edit it, save it, or delete it.
Word & WP: Footnotes/Endnotes
5
1
WP's Footnote & Endnote options are far more advanced, with many more options. Word gets a point because hovering over a Footnote lets you see what the Footnote says.
WP:
Watermark
Word: Format » Background » Printed Watermark
1
New feature in
WordXP .
WP has had this since at least 1993!!!
All I can say to MS is . . . about time!
You used to be able to add a Watermark in Word , but it was a very convoluted way of doing such. WordXP is the 1st version to enable the insertion of a Watermark easily.
Word & WP: Graphics
REFER GRAPHICS MENU
WP: Line
5
1
WP—Additional menu item.
Word—Via its
Drawing Toolbar or its Borders & Shading Dialog Box (???).
Word & WP: Shapes
1
5
No difference in the Shapes available, although Word did have this first. This is one area where WP had to catch up! Word was ahead since version 6.0.! WP has finally added options such as Align and Distribute (which was always a great feature in Word). Word gets 5 points because it still has some great options that WP doesn't—especially the on-screen Grid.
Word & WP: Chart
5
Word's Charts are good. WP's Charts are amazing—especially since Corel added a new engine to WordPerfect Office 2002!
Word & WP: Text Box
1
5
Both have excellent options for formatting a Text Box. Word takes on a DTP aspect by allowing you to have a link from one text box to the next.
Word & WP: Comments
1
This is so funny: in my Word2000 vs WP2000 comparison, I gave the points to Word because I preferred the way they were implemented. MS has since overhauled the Comment feature in MSOXP, and now WordXP 's Comments are like WP2000's! Similarly, Corel has actually improved WP's Comments, and made them more like MSO2000!
Word & WP: Equation
I have never used this option, nor do I think I will ever need to, so I can't really compare this feature.
Word & WP: Sound
1
1
Same
Word &
WP:
Spreadsheet/Database
1
1
Both have many ways of inserting—and linking documents to—a database or spreadsheet information.
Word &
WP:
Filename/Path & Filename
1
1
Same
Word & WP: Counter
I have never used these, so I can't compare them.
Word & WP: Bar Code
1
1
Unbelievably easy in WP. Not so in Word.
Word & WP: File
1
1
No difference
Word & WP: Object
1
1
No difference
Word & WP: New Page
1
1
No difference
Word & WP: Page Numbers
1
WP's options are much greater, & WP doesn't assume that it's a Header or Footer. This is optional. Page Numbering is also problematic in Word .
Word:
AutoText/AutoComplete
WP: QuickCorrect/Quick
Words
(Refer TOOLS Menu)
1
Word wins this one because it gives you a 'ToolTip' for AutoText entries as you begin to type. WP has the same functions, but you need to remember what abbreviations you assigned.
Word: Fields
1
I have never used these in Word, so I cannot assess them properly, although I believe they are very good.
Word: Captions
1
1
This is done by right-clicking on a graphic in WP, and there are a lot more options too. However, Word allows you to add a caption to text (it doesn't have to be in a Text or Graphic Box).
Word: Cross-reference
(
WP TOOLS Menu)
1
Both are complicated, but Word is infuriating to get working.
Word: Table of Contents
(
WP TOOLS Menu)
1
WordXP has improved this feature, and now the TOC seems as powerful and flexible as WP's. In the past, I have had problems with TOCs in Word, i.e., sometimes it works OK, other times it doesn't work at all (??). I know that other people have difficulties with this feature too.
Word: Table of
Authorities
(
WP: TOOLS
Menu)
Word: Table of
Figures
(
WP TOOLS/Reference/List)
Word:
Index
(
WP TOOLS Menu)
10
Put it this way, despite Microsoft aggressively going after Law Firms, most still use WordPerfect. In fact, those that switched to Word are now coming back to WordPerfect or, at the very least, have to keep WP on their computers, because Word can't handle long, complex, highly-formatted documents.
Word:
Picture
WP: Graphics
1
1
Same
Word: Bookmark
(
WP:
TOOLS Menu)
5
WP has more options, the Interface is better, and you can have multiple words. E.g., Say you have a Heading 'General Comments', highlight this in WP , choose Bookmark, and WP automatically has 'General Comments' in the Bookmark Dialog Box.
In Word, you have to retype the Bookmark Name into the Dialog Box, and if you use a space, Word greys out the 'Add' Button.
WordPerfect also has a 'QuickMark', which lets you decide where the cursor should appear the next time you open the document on which you're working.
Word: Hyperlink
(
WP:
TOOLS Menu)
1
5
Word improved this feature in MSO2000, and it is still better than WP's. It is very easy-to-use, e.g., Word's History list shows all your recent documents, making it very easy to create the link. In WP, you have to scroll to find a document. I also like the way Word uses IE's Address Field when inserting URLs.
INSERT MENU POINTS
WP: 50
Word: 30